Galdor, Councilor From the West (3U18)
Galadriel, Lady of the Golden Wood (3R17) | Back to Realms of the Elf-Lords Index |
Gift of the Evenstar (3R19) |
Galdor, Councilor From the West (3U18) is a Elven Ally from the Realms of the Elf-Lords set.
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Strategy[edit]
Galdor, Councilor From the West is a rarely-played card, due to its highly situational game text. It's mainly played in decks that want another site 3 Elven ally to spot or exert.
Galdor's game text is not strong. Sending a minion back to your opponent's hand in the Regroup Phase doesn't stop them from then replaying that minion in the next Shadow Phase. This can be situationally useful if the minion is very expensive, like Cave Troll of Moria, Scourge of the Black Pit (1R165) , and it does mean they draw one less card when they reconcile. It's also funny -- if not especially effective -- to send The Balrog, Durin's Bane (2C51) or The Balrog, Flame of Udun (2R52) back to your opponent's hand in Fellowship Block, since the Balrog can't be played after site 5 in that block.
Most decks that do use him aren't using him chiefly for the game text, though. He's a site 3 Elven ally, and plenty of cards want to spot or exert elves or Elven allies. He counts as an elf for The Last Alliance of Elves and Men (1R49) , can exert for Secret Sentinels (2R20) , empowers Arwen, Lady Undomiel (3R8) , can heal a dwarf with Shoulder to Shoulder (1C59) , and so on. Even then, he's one of the weakest site 3 allies, so he's still rarely played.
Strengths and Weaknesses[edit]
Synergizes With...[edit]
- Cards that need to spot or exert elves or Elven allies, particularly site 3 allies. These include Secret Sentinels (2R20) and Arwen, Lady Undomiel (3R8)
- Ally versions of Elrond that support other site 3 allies, like Elrond, Lord of Rivendell (1R40) and Elrond, Herald to Gil-galad (3R13)
Strong Versus...[edit]
- Expensive minions, like Cave Troll of Moria, Scourge of the Black Pit (1R165) , especially if that minion was only practical to play because of a one-time resource like Ithil Stone (9R+47) or Corsair War Galley (8U59)
- Minions with highly restrictive play conditions, like The Balrog, Flame of Udun (2R52)
Weak Versus...[edit]
- Galdor's game text is marginal against most minions
- Ally hate, such as Tower Assassin (2R93) or Fear (1R212) , although he'll rarely be the main target of such cards